MVA suffix
The optional MVA suffix on Norwegian organization numbers, indicating the organization is registered for merverdiavgift (Norwegian VAT).
What it is
MVA stands for merverdiavgift, the Norwegian term for value-added tax. The MVA suffix is appended to a Norwegian organization number to indicate that the entity is VAT-registered. The full format is NO followed by a 9-digit Brønnøysund organization number, optionally followed by MVA (e.g. NO123456789MVA).
Where you meet it
The MVA suffix appears on Norwegian VAT invoices and in VAT registration certificates. It is not structurally part of the organization number itself; it is a registration indicator. This means two Norwegian organizations can have organization numbers that look identical except for the suffix, and only one is VAT-registered.
Not every Norwegian organization is required to register for VAT. Registration is mandatory once turnover exceeds a defined threshold. Smaller entities, associations, and public bodies below the threshold hold an organization number without the MVA suffix.
How vatverify handles it
When you submit a Norwegian number to /v1/validate, vatverify queries the Brønnøysund register (BRREG) and returns a vatRegistered flag in the response indicating whether the organization holds an active VAT registration. This is accurate regardless of whether you included the MVA suffix in your input: vatverify normalises the input and checks the registration status directly from BRREG.
Common confusions
- The MVA suffix is not part of the numeric identifier. Stripping it does not change which organization is being referred to.
- A missing MVA suffix does not mean the organization is not VAT-registered. The only reliable way to confirm registration status is to query BRREG directly, which vatverify does on every
/v1/validatecall for NO-prefixed numbers.